“Your doughty paunch stands before you like a firkin of butter, and your duck-legs seem to be cast for carrying burdens.
“Thy works are libels upon others, and satires upon thyself; and while they bark at men of sense, call him knave and fool that wrote them. Thou hast a great antipathy to thy own species; and hatest the sight of a fool but in thy glass.”
Steele had been kind to Dennis, and once got arrested on account of a pecuniary service which he did him. When John heard of the fact—“'Sdeath!” cries John; “why did not he keep out of the way as I did?”
The Answer concludes by mentioning that Cibber had offered Ten Pounds for the discovery of the authorship of Dennis's pamphlet; on which, says Steele,—
“I am only sorry he has offered so much, because the twentieth part would have over-valued his whole carcass. But I know the fellow that he keeps to give answers to his creditors will betray him; for he gave me his word to bring officers on the top of the house that should make a hole through the ceiling of his garret, and so bring him to the punishment he deserves. Some people think this expedient out of the way, and that he would make his escape upon hearing the least noise. I say so too; but it takes him up half an hour every night to fortify himself with his old hair trunk, two or three joint-stools, and some other lumber, which he ties together with cords so fast that it takes him up the same time in the morning to release himself.”
Gay calls him—“Dear Prior ... beloved by every muse”.—Mr. Pope's Welcome from Greece.
Swift and Prior were very intimate, and he is frequently mentioned in the Journal to Stella. “Mr. Prior,” says Swift, “walks to make himself fat, and I to keep myself down.... We often walk round the park together.”
In Swift's works there is a curious tract called Remarks on the Characters of the Court of Queen Anne [Scott's edition, vol. xii]. The Remarks are not by the Dean: but at the end of each is an addition in italics from his hand, and these are always characteristic. Thus, to the Duke of Marlborough, he adds, “Detestably Covetous,” &c. Prior is thus noticed—
“Matthew Prior, Esq., Commissioner of Trade.
“On the Queen's accession to the throne, he was continued in his office; is very well at Court with the ministry, and is an entire creature of my Lord Jersey's, whom he supports by his advice; is one of the best poets in England, but very facetious in conversation. A thin, hollow-looked man, turned of 40 years old. This is near the truth.”